Two injured on set of The Hobbit

Minor 'explosion' in production workshop

According to various sources, a small explosion in a production workshop on the set of The Hobbit yesterday resulted in two crew members being taken to hospital.

Initial reports were mixed and suggested a larger incident, but a set publicist for the production released a statement downplaying the incident, saying "a couple of the guys sustained mild burns but nothing serious".

She went on to say the pair had apparently been "drilling a statue" which subsequently caught fire, and that it was a "slight overstatement" to call the incident an explosion.

Considering that one of the men was taken to hospital with burnt nostril hair, she may have a point.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the fire department was on the scene at Stone Street Studios in Wellington, New Zealand, where production is taking place.

Apparently the pair were taken to hospital as a precaution, as smoke inhalation is a risk with that type of injury.

The Hobbit is currently filming in Wellington, New Zealand, ahead of a 2012 and 2013 release (for parts 1 and 2 respectively).

In the mean time, if someone sneezes on set, expect to hear about it...